Electric-circuit-controlling apparatus



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-sheet 1.

3B. R. GILL, Jr. BLEGTRIG GIRGUIT CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

No. 430,636. Patented June 24, 1890.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(NoModeL) No. 480,636. Patented June 24, 1890.

u u m n UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN R. GILL, J R., OF PLEASANT HILL, ASSIGNOR TO THE GILL-ALEXANDER ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

ELECTRIC-ClRCUIT CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,636, dated June 24, 1890.

Application filed March 30, 1888. Serial No. 268,993. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN R. GILL, .Ir., a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pleasant Hill, in the county of Cass and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Circuit-Controlling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My present invention relates to that class of electrical apparatus shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States issued to me the th day of March, 1885, No. 313,720. Upon telegraph, telephone, and other lines I 5 having a number of instruments connected in series a call addressed to any one of the stations upon the line passes through all the instruments in that circuit, actuating all the call-bells or sounders, as the case may be, and producing noise, which is not only annoying in itself, but a serious interruption at times to the attendants or operators, who must give sufficient attention to each call to ascertain if it is addressed to their particular station. 2 5 In operating electric signals, also, from a main or central station it is essential to provide an automatic electrical apparatus at each point having such organization that it will respond to a given call or combination of electrical o pulsations, but will be inactive or fail to respond in an operative sense to any and all other calls sent over the line. It is evident that in apparatus of this type means should be provided whereby, after each call'is sent 3 5 over the line, the parts shall be immediately and automatically restored to normal position in readiness for further operation. Itis also essential to provide for the similar restoration to normal position of those instruments upon .the line which are responsive to some one or more of the impulses constituting the combination addressed to any particular point or station. I

It is the purpose of my invention to provide an escapement device controlled by electro-inagnets and provided with electric contacts arranged at different distances apart for operating circuits according to the duration of electric pulsations by simple and accu- 5o ratelyresponding mechanism of the character indicated, so organized that by a simple permutation of the electrical impulses sent over the line in which a series of such instruments are connected any one of the series may be completely operated to effect any mechanical result capable of accomplishment by electrical devices or by mechanical means which are brought into action by such devices. It is my purpose, also, to so construct and combine the parts of an electrical mechanism of this character as to render the same capable of operation in any position, the operative parts having the required equilibrium under all possible conditions, thereby rendering the invention applicable to submarine torpedo systems. These purposes I accomplish by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter fully described, the same being definitely pointed out in the claims following this specification.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation with the casing in section, showing the parts composing my station apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan view of my station apparatus represented in Fig. 1. Fig. 3'is adetail side elevation of the inertia-wheel of the escapement-shaft, and shows the manner of connecting the same to said shaft. Fig. 4 is a detail of the escapement device, partly sectioned, showing. the electrical contacts and their connections. Fig. 5 is an edge elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 isa detail end elevation of one pole of the restoring electro-magnet, showing the auxiliary armature for maintaining the circuit of said restoring electro-magnet after the latter is broken at the escapement. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view representing in elementary form the equipment and several circuits of any one of a series of stations arranged with my apparatus upon a line, together with the possible adjuncts of such station, two further, stations being also indicated in the diagram by one of the main parts of the apparatus,- showing the electrical contacts arranged in harmony with the individual call or signal Fig. 8 is a detail elevation IOO In describing my invention an intelligent conception. thereof will be more easily gained by first explaining the construction and organization of the apparatus common to each station or point, and subsequently pointing out the several adjuncts thereof, together with the local circuits at each station.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the reference-numeral 1 denotes any suitable baseplate, upon which is seated an electro-magnet 2. Upon a standard 3 rising from the plate or base is pivotally mounted an armature-lever .4, having its rearward end so weighted as to produce substantial equilibrium, which is normally overcome bya spring 5,connected to the tail of the lever and to the standard. The opposite extremity of said levenarm is dividedor forked, forming two arms or branches 6 .and 7. Upon one of these arms at its extremity is pivoted a short-limit pawl.8,-.thrown toward the opposite branch by a spring 9, and; limited in such inward movement by a stop 10 on the arm, Fig. 4,

engaging. with a similar stop on the pawl.

Upon .thearm or branch 7 at its extremity is formed a recessor opening 12, having limiting. points or stops 13 and 13, and pivoted thereon centrally with relation to said points is a long-limit pawl 14, arranged to vibrate between thestops 13 and 13, and thrown normallyagainst the latter by a spring 15.

J ournaled uponsuitable standards 16 is a horizontal shaft 17, upon which is mounted an escapement device 18, of insulating material, having its surface or parts thereof divided into equal parts, from each of which projects a... tooth or other similar detent 19. Winding uponthe shaft is a cord 20, connected with a spring 21, by the tensionof which the shaft is rotated in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1. Upon the same shaft 17 is mounted an equilibrium-armature 22, having substantially the form-of a letter S, or, in other words, composed of a straight centrally-mounted bar 23, having two equal and similar oppositely-curved. arms 24:.

Seated upon the base-plate 1, upon oppositesides of the shaft 17 and armature 22, are electro-magnets 25, between the cores of which the said armature turns. Upon another part of. the shaft 17, outside the electro-magnets 25, is mounted an inertia-wheel 26, the object of which is to prevent the escapement mechanism fromresponding too quickly to the action of the spring 21, and thereby prevent the wheel 18 from revolving the space of more than one tooth before it could be arrestedby said, escapement; but to prevent the momentum of said Wheel from giving further impetus to the shaft l'? and damaging the contacts 28 or the pawls when the mechanism is returned to normal position the wheel 26. is loosely mounted on its shaft and provided with a spring 27, as shown in Fig. 3, which gives the desired frictional connection with the shaft for the purpose herein described. It will readily be seen by Figs. 1 and 2 that the number thereof, as here shown, being four. These contacts are all electrically connected together and to the shaft 17. The several contacts 28 may be upon the teeth or projections on the disks 18 or they may be otherwise disposed, the only essential condition being that they shall be accessible to contact with the pawl 8 upon the escapement-lever 4. ,When the escapement-mechanism comprises a disk, I prefer to arrange the contacts upon a separate peripheral portion thereof, as shown in Fig. 5.

inafter explained.

Upon one of the restoring electro-magnets 25 is mounted an armature,29.1.(Shown-in detail in Fig. This armature is carriedby a spring 30, the free end of whichextends over a contact 31 on the" end of the electric.

magnet, both being insulated therefrom.

From the construction andorganizationof parts. thus far described it will be seen that ifv the electro-magnet 2 is energized for a relatively short time the armature-lever 4' will be drawn downward, thereby releasingit The last contact 48 projects radially from the surface, of the escapement device, for a purpose here? from engagement with the projection on the v escapement deviceand returning in time 1 toiengage with the nextprojection. If the electro-magnet 2 is energized for arelatively long time, the armature-lever 4 will be drawn downward and held for a longer time. The tension of the spring 21 acting on the shaft rotates the escapement mechanism and causes it to engage with the long-limit pawl 14: and carries the same against the stop 13 and thereby allowing the escapement mechanism to 8 to engage with the next projection but one on the escapement mechanism, when the armature-lever 4c returns to its normal posimove far enough to allow the short-limit pawl,

tion; and it will be readily seen that the degree of movement of the escapement mechanism caused by the spring 21 and governed by the escapement part of armature-lever 4 depends upona long or a'short amount .of

time during which the electro-magnet 2 is energized.

A pin 32 projects from the side of the; escapement device for engagement with a contact-plate 33, hereinafter described.

Referring now to the diagram Fig. 7, the 1 letter L denotes the main line, having a main or central stationat S with battery B and key K. The arrangement of the partsthus far described is shown in this figure, and. in

connection therewith is shown an ordinary.-

sounder S, a call-bell C B, and an ordinary visual signal V 8. These parts may or may not be adjuncts of any one or more of the line-stations, or any one or more of the same may be connected therein and switched into or out of circuit, as required.

L B represent the local battery, and S K the station-key.

Mounted upon any suitable support is a flexible or elastic contact-plate 33, lying beside the escapement device 18 in such manner as to engage at the proper time with the pin 32 as the escapement moves. This plate normally engages with a contact 34.

It being understood that the lever 4 is of conducting material, as also is its short-limit pawl 8, the connection with local battery L B is as follows: Starting from one pole of the battery, the wire 36 leads to the coil of the restoring electro-magnet 25, thence to the shaft 17 through any one of the contacts 28 and the 'short-limit pawl 8 to the lever 4, thence by way of contact 34 and plate 33 back to the other pole of the battery. ,When the restoring electro-magnet is energized, however, the circuit will be from LB through the coil of said magnet 25, then by wire 35 through the auxiliary armature 29, spring 30, contact 31, then to wire 36, and through contacts 34 and plate 33 back to battery.

The 1nain-line circuit will be from the main or central station as follows: Starting from one pole of battery B, the line-wire passes through the station-key S K, through a relay R, and thence to stations 2 and 3.

The armature 37 of the relay is connected I as follows: from the local battery by wire 38 to contact 39, armature 37, then by wire 38 to a drop-contact 41, then through said contact to electro-magnet 2, and thence to the other pole of the battery, energizing the electro-magnet 2 and causing a single vibration of the armature-lever 4. The contacts 28 on the escapement 18 are arranged at stated intervals and in such manner that when the parts are in normal position and a predetermined combination of pulsations is sent over the main line such movement will be given to the escapement device that the short-limit pawl 8 will jump or escape engagement with each of the contacts 28 011 the escapement device until the last contact 28 is brought into such position by the successive impulses that upon the last thereof it will engage the pawl 8. The circuit will then be from the local battery by Wire 36 to contact-plate 33, contact 34, wire 36, armature-lever 4, shortlimit pawl 8, contact 28, thence by a wire 42 to magnet 43, which attracts lever 44, and thence by wire 42 back to battery. The magnet 43 being energized, the detent-lever 45 is lifted and the drop-contact 41 is allowed to fall, breaking the circuit at contact 38 and making a new circuit at contact 46. This new circuit will be as follows: from local battery by wire 38, contact 39, armature 37, wire 38, drop-contact 41, and contact 46 through a wire 46, which may be carried through the operating-coils of any signaling or other apparatus, as V S or O B, which are shown in the diagram as switched into circuit.

I have shown a common visual signal V S and an ordinary call-bell C B in the drawings as being connected in the circuit last described; but it is evident that I may substitute for either or both any form of apparatus the mechanical or electrical action of which is either initiated or sustained by my apparatus as herein described or by other means.

The contacts 28 are shown for station No. l as arranged for the combination of short and long impulses represented below Fig. 7, consisting of a short impulse followed by two long, then one short, and finally two long impulses. W'hen this combination is sent over the main line L, the escapement 18 is moved or advanced a step at each impulse. Each movement will place the pawl 8 in the next succeeding space of the escapement, or in the next space but one, according to the length of the impulse. If the latter is short, the escapement will move only so far as to permit the short-limit pawl 8 to engage the projection on the escapement which lies adjacent to the one it engaged when the impulse was transmitted. On the other hand, if the key at K is held for any time more than is sufficient to transmit a relatively long impulse of the combination, the long-limit pawl 14 will permit a movement sufficient to carry the pawl 8 into engagement with the next detent save one on the escapement. This will cause said pawl 8 to jump or pass over. the first contact 28. The next succeeding impulse, being a relatively long one, carries it over the second contact also. The next being a relatively short impulse, the pawl engages between the second and third contacts and is carried over the latter by the fifth impulse. By the last impulse the shortlimit pawl 8 makes engagement with the last contact 28 on the escapement, closing the local operating-circuit already described. ,After the proper combination of electrical impulses has thus been transmitted over the line and the localoperating-circuit has been rendered operative, as already described, it is necessary to restore the parts of said apparatus to normal position. The drop-eontact 41 having been operated to render the local circuit operative, the electro-magnet 43 should be rendered inoperative as soon as it has attracted its armature 45 and dropped the contact 41, since as long as the electromagnet 43 is operative the local operator cannot restore the drop-contact 41. In order to effect this, I connect wire 42 from contact 28" to a contact 42 on the tail of the drop-contact 41 and insulated from contact 38 on the same part. The wire 42, leading from contact 42, is carried by the tail ofthe drop 41, whereby the circuit of the electro-magnet. 43 is broken as soon as the drop 41 is operated. The drop may now be restored tov position by the local operator, leaving the local operatingcircuit in action. The signaling or other a'pparatus having now been rendered operative, the parts are restored to normal position in the following manner: Adjacent to the last contact 28 is a contact 48, projecting from the escapement and connected up with the several contacts 28. Connecting with wire 4, leading from the operating electro-magnet 2 to contact 38, is a branch wire 4, leading to a switch 51. A wire 52 also leadsfrom wire 38 to a contact-button 53, at which point the circuit of electro-magnet 2 may be closed by a tap upon the switch 51. This sends a single impulse over the circuit, including the operative electro-magnet 2, thereby bringing the projecting contact 48 against the pawl 8. The circuitis now from L B, by wire 36, to contact-plate 33, contact 34, wire 36, armaturelever 4, pawl 8, contact 48, shaft 17, and wire 36 to reversing-magnet 25, and thence to the other pole of the battery. This immediately attracts the armature 22 and restores the escapement to its normal position. Upon this movement the pin 32 on the escapement strikes the contact-plate 33 and breaks the local circuit at the point 34, leaving the parts in normal position. The operator at the 10- cal station can now raise the drop-contact 41, leaving all theparts in position for the next succeeding call over the main line.

If impulses are transmitted over the line in a'combination different from the combination necessary to properly operate my instrument, as here arranged, the pawl 8 will after one or more movements of the escapement close the circuit of the restoring electro-magnet 25 through the first, second, or some succeeding contact 28, and the parts are at once returned in the manner herein described. It will be seen that, owing to its less weight and proximity to the core of the restoring electromagnet 25, the auxiliary armature 29 will act before the equilibrium-armature 22 operates, thereby closing the circuit through contact 31. Now, as the restoring-armature 22 moves, the escapement being drawn back by the attraction thereof, the circuit of said magnet is instantly broken by the'pawl 8 leaving the contact 28, and the electro-magnet 25 would have its circuit broken before its function was accomplished. By means of the auxiliary armature 29, however, the circuit of the restoring electro-magnet is made from one pole of the battery, through wire 36, through the coil by wire 35, spring 30, armature 29, contact 31, wire 35, wire 36, contact 34, contact-plate 33, and wire 36, back to the other pole of the battery. As the escapement 18.

reaches normal position, the pin 32 breaks the circuit last described at the contact 34 and releases the armature 29.

For example, I have shown in Fig. 8 a barescapement having detents upon its sides or edges for the engagement of the pawls of the armature-lever. This form of escapement may be drawn in one direction by a spring 49 and restored to normal position by the pull of the restoring electro-magnet 25 acting upon an armature-lever 50, connected directly or otherwise to the bar. In short, any suitable form of escapement may be used in place of either of the forms shown, the condition being that it shall be capable of co-operatingwith a lever, the arms of which engage alternately therewith.

The escapement 18 is preferably made as shown in Fig. 5, the contacts 28 being 'arranged upon one side. 'By giving a lateral deflection to the upper arm of the'lever 4 the long-limit pawl 14 will make no engagement with the contacts. 28, and it will be unnecessary to insulate the said arm and'its pawl.

Beneath each designation of the line-stations in Fig. 7 I have indicated the signal or combination, consisting of relatively short and long pulsations addressed to each station,

The electro-magnet 2, operating the arma-' ture-lever 4, may be made operative by the mainline circuit without the intervention of other devices. I prefer, however, to place said electro-magnet in the local circuit and render said circuit operativein substantially the manner set forth.

It should be distinctly understood that although I have chosen to illustrate my invention as operated by a closed circuit I may, without any 'material change or departure therefrom, operate it by an open circuit or by any one of the well-known forms in which electrical power is applied to the movement of mechanical parts-for example, by closing an open circuit, by breaking a closed circuit,

by re-enforcing a closed current, by diminish ing a closed current, or by reversing direction of current, and thereby subjecting the line to electrical pulsationsfor the purpose stated. It should also be understood that although it is shown that the movement of the escape: ment is produced by a spring and reversed by electro-magnetism, it may be produced by electro-magnetism and reversed by a spring, and that in either case a weight may take the place of a spring.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is-' 1. An escapement device consisting of a wheel having a predetermined combination of electric contacts, all of which are for reversing it except one, (indicated by 28%) its circuit being from local battery L B, wire 36, plate 33, contact-points 34, wire 36, armature-lever 4, pawl 8, contact 28, wire 42, contact-points 42, electro-magnet 43, wire 42 to wire 36, t0 the other pole of the battery, in combination with pawls mounted upon an armature-lever and an electromagnet whereby the direct action of said electro-magnet causes said escapement device to be restored to normal position when a wrong combination of pulsations is caused to be made by the electro-magn et, substantially as described.

2. An escapement device consisting of a wheel having predetermined electrical contacts atirregular intervals and provided with detents at intervals, in combination with an armature-lever having a long-limit and a short-limit pawl alternately engaging the escapement device, an electro-magnet operating the lever, an electro-magnet, an S-shaped armature upon the shaft of the escapement device restoring the escapement device to normal position, a circuit for the actuating electro-magnet, and acircuit for the restoring electroqnagnet in which are included the contacts on the escapement device,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

A11 escapement device having electrical contacts at irregular intervals and provided with detents at intervals, long-limit and shortlimit pawls having alternate engagement with the escapement device, a lever carrying said pawls, an electro-magnet operating the lever, a cord wound under tension upon the shaft of the escapement device for giving progressive movement to the escapement device, an electro-magnet restoring the latter to normal position, a circuit for the operating electromagnet, including all save one of the contacts on the escapement, and a local circuit made operative by the engagement of the last contact on the escapement device with one of the pawls, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

4. An escapement device having contacts at predetermined intervals and detents at intervals, a lever having long and short limit pawls alternately engaging the detents, an electro-magnet operating said lever, a cord wound under tension upon the shaft of the escapement device for giving progressive movement to the escapement device, an electro-magnet restoring it to normal position, a local circuitfor the operating electro-magnet, in which is included an armature of a relay, and a main circuit for said relay, substantially as described.

5. An escapement device having contactsat irregular intervals and provided with detents at intervals, a lever having long and short limit pawls alternately engaging said escapement device, an electro-magnet operating said lever, a cord wound and retained under tension upon the shaft of the escapement device for giving progressive movement to the escapement device, an electromagnet and armature restoring the same to its normal position, a local circuit for the operating electro-magnet in which are included the armature and contact-points by which the relay makes and breaks the local circuit, a main-line circuit operating the relay, a local circuit, including the last contact of the escapement device, which is made by the complete combination of impulses of an electro-magnet in said circuit having an armature by which a separate circuit is switched in, and a signal or other device lying in and operated by said circuit, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. An escapement device having contacts arranged upon its periphery with reference to a predetermined combination of electric pulsations, a shaft carrying said escapement, and upon said shaft an S-shaped armature and an electro-magnet to restore the escapement device to normal position, a lever carrying long and short limit pawls having alternate engagement with said escapement and permitting movements of different lengths, according to the character of the impulse, a circuit for an electroqna'gnet operating the lever made operative by a main-line circuit, and a local circuit made operative by one of the contacts on the escapement device and operating a signal or other mechanism, substantially as described.

7. An escapement device having contacts arranged with reference to a predetermined combination of electrical pulsations, a lever carrying along and a short limit pawl engaging alternately with the escapement device, a final contact but'one 28 upon said escapement device, lying in a separate circuit, and the latter circuit operating the drop-contact 41, said circuit being made operative by the engagement of the contact 2S with one of the pawls of the lever, substantially as described.

8. An escapement device having intermittent progressive movement, varied in degree by the character of the electrical impulses sent over the line, said device having contacts arranged in accordance with a predetermined combination of such impulses and electrically connected together, a final but one contact 28 in a separate circuit, said circuit made operative by the final impulse of said combination, and a restoring-contact 48, also carried by the escapement device by which the restoring-circuit passing through the restoring electro-magnet 25 is made operative to restore the parts to normal position, substantially as described.

9. A main-line circuit, a relay operating the local circuit, an escapement device in said local circuit whereby the escapement is allowed to advance (by a cord wound under tension upon the shaft of the escapement device) by successive steps, varied in length by the length of the impulses, an operating-circuit made operative only by the last but one advance movement of the escapement device, and a restoring-circuit acting directly and operated by the final advance movement of the escapement, substantially as described.

10. An escapement device having a series of contacts arranged with reference to a certain combination of electrical impulses, a circuit operating said escapement device, a local operating-circuit made operative by one of the contacts of a series, a restoring or reversing circuit made operative by a separate contact on the escapement connected electrically with all but the last contact of the series, and a contact-plate adjacent to the escapement by which the circuit of the restoring electromagnet is rendered inoperative upon the escapement device reaching normal position, substantially as described.

11. An escapement device provided with electrical contacts, some of which are arranged to close a circuit through the restoring electro-magnet 25, in combination with an stored to normal position by said electromagnet 25, substantially as described.

12. An electric circuit embracing a restoring electro-magnet, an auxiliary armature, its metallic point 31, the armature-lever 4,1ts pawl 8, the shaft 17 and its escapement device having metallic points 28 and 48, contact-plate 33, and its contact 34, said circuit being rendered active by any one of said metallic points upon the escapement device when brought in contact with pawl 8, whereby the circuit is established by the escapement device and is retained until the mechanism is restored to normal position and then broken, as herein described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, EDWVIN R. GILL, J R.

Witnesses:

E. E. MASSON, HARRY L. AMER. 

